Automobile signal



May zo, 1924.

. 1,495,126 J. WlLsoN AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL 'Filed April 25, ,1921 2 sheets-sheet 1 /3 J0 v/0 36 5A/7 o o y w a /-9\\ s; e il lI 1- 0 ,i j o if /f *v' I n l /3 /7 26 Z la@ y 5 f4 ,IG v o o i 9 'u' /f .f/ "A Z Y WITNESSE.' ATTORNEY lm @nu n 0a 1% 9, 2 y m AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL Filed April 26. 192] 2 SheLs-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ain:

ATTORNEY WITNESSE S .T

` art.

Patented May 20, 1924,.

UNITED STATES JOHN WILSON, OF EVERETT, WASHINGTON.

AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL.

Application led April 26, 1921. Serial No. 464,648.A

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN lNrLsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Everett, in the county of Snohomish and State of Washington, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automobile Signals, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to signals, particularly signaling devices for automobiles, and

has for its object the provision of a signaling device adapted to be secured upon one side bar of the wind shield of an automobile, and including a plurality of blades carrying vari.

ous legends, the blades being adapted to be moved so as to extend beyond the side of the vehicle to apprise the drivers of following and approaching vehicles of any intended change in the direction of travel, and also to indicate to traffic officers that the vehicle equipped with the device is intending to make a change.

An important object is the provision of a device of this character which is provided with illuminating means whereby it may be used at night as well as by day, with equal advantage, the illuminating means being normally inoperative but being energized when thel blade members are swung to indicating position.

Another object is the provision of a device of this character which carries a mirror whereby the operator of the vehicle may ascertain the conditions of the traiic tothe rear.

An additional object is the provision lof a device of this character which will be simple and inexpensive in manufacture and installation, highly efficient in use, durable in service and a general improvement in the With the above and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists in the details of construction to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure l is an elevation of my device in position upon a wind shield,

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view through one side of the wind shield showing my device in plan view,

Figure 8 is an enlarged elevation of my device showing one of the blade members in extended position,

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view,

Figure 5 is a diagram of the electric circuit and Figure 6 is a detail view, partly in Section, illustrating the electrical contact means,

Figure 7 is a detail section taken on substantially the line 7--7l of Figure 4 but showing all the signal blades in extended position, V

Figure 8 is a detail perspective View 0f one of the actuating bars,

Figure 9 is a detail perspective view of one of the connecting links and Figure 10 is a fragmentary perspective View of one of the blades.

Referring more particularly to the drawings I have shown my device as comprising an elongated casing 10 which is substantially U-shaped in cross section, that is which has one edge and one end open as clearly shown. Secured upon one end portion of this casing 10 is a clamping device 11 whereby the cas-v ing may be secured upon one ofthe side bars A of an automobile wind shield as indicated in Figure 1. Secured upon the side of the casing 10 toward the inside of the vehicle, that is toward the operator thereof, is a mirror 12 which will enable the operator or driver to ascertain the condition of the traliic following. Secured upon the opposite side ofthe casing is a socket member 13 adapted to form a bearing or holding means for a spot light or the like not shown.

Normally disposed within the casing l0 and hidden from view is a series of plates 14 which carry the legends Right, Left Stop All these plates 1 4 are pivoted upon a common bolt 15 which extends transversely of the casing. In actual practice it is preferable that these plates be painted some striking color such as red for instance so as to attract attention and it is of course apparent that the legends thereon must be in some contrasting color, preferably white so as to be conspicuous. At their lower edges the plates 14 are notched as indicated at 16 for the accommodation of one of the securing bolts which holds the mirror in position. Slidable along the upper 0r closed portion of the casing 10 is a plurality of longitudinally extending bars 17 which pass through an opening 18 in the closed end of the casing and which have their projecting ends bent laterally in different directions as clearly shown so as to provide handles. The handles are designated by the numeral 19 Vao and the different directions at which they extendv will constitute a guide so that the operator will know which handle to grasp in order to operate the desired signal as will be explained. Pivotally connected with the end of the bars within the casing are links 2() which are U-shaped in cross section and which in actual practice may preferably be formed of sheet metal suitably bent. rhese links have pivotally connected therewith the upper and inner most corners of the plates 14C as indicated at 21. Located within the upper or closed portion of the casing is aleafA spring 22 which engages each of the bars 17 whereby to exert a downward pressure thereon for holding the plates in position normally within the casing 10.

The outer portions of the bars 17 are cut away as shown with inclined surfaces 23 and to provide stop shoulders 24;. Secured upon the top or closed edge of the casing 10 is aresilient strip 25 which carries a block 26 at its freev end normally engaging within the cut out portions of the bars. Disposed above and insulated' from the strip 25 is a second strip 27 adapted to serve as an electrical contact as will be explained. Secured upon opposite sides ofthe casing 10, that is upon the front and back thereof are brackets 28' which carry electric lamp sockets 29 'which are provided with reflectors 30 and within which are bulbs 31. It will be seen thatwhen these bulbs 31 are energized the light will be thrown upon Ithe plates 14; when they are in signaling position so that the device i-s adapted for use at night as wel] as by day. The numeral 32 designates a wire which leads from a suitable source of current-32a which may be the battery of theautomobile and which is connected with one terminal ofA bot-h of the bulbs 81. The source of current is shown as having its other terminal grounded at 32". Connected with the other terminals ofthe bulb is a wire 33 to which is connectedv with one ter- Y minal of the other bulb a wire 34 which is connected with a suitable binding post 3i) carried by the strip 27. The strip 25 is grounded as shown at 25a. At certain times 'in the operation of the device, that is when the plates are in signa-ling position the strip 25 will be moved upwardly into engagement with the strip 27 whereby to complete the circuit through the bulbs. The numeral 36 represents a suitable switch which is interposed in the wire 32.

In the operation of the device it will be seen that ordinarily the parts are arranged as shown in Figure 1, that is all the plates 14 are disposed entirely within the casing 10 and the block 26 carried bythe strip 25 is disposed'within the cutout portionvof the bars 17 so that the strip 25 will be in its lowermost position, and out of engagement with the strip 27. lVhenthe operator deplate 14 sires to signal an intended turn or to stop, he grasps the proper one of the handles 19 and pulls it to the right, that is away from the casing whereupon the movement of the bar 17 will cause corresponding movement of the associated link 2O and this will result in swinging the associated upon its pivot so that the plate will be caused to extend beyond the casing at the side thereof most remote from the wind shield. As the bar 17 is thus moved it will be apparent that the inclined surface 23 of the cutout portion will ride under the block 26 and lift the latter whereby the strip will be moved upwardly into engagement with the strip Z7 for closing the circuit through the ,bulbs 32. ln this way it will be seen that the energization of the illuminating means will be automatic just as soon as any one of` the signaling plates is moved into signaling position. lhen the device is used' in day 'time it is of course to be understood that the switch indicated at 36 is opened whereby *to cut out the lighting.

From the foregoing description andl a, study of the d'rawings it will be apparent that l have structed and easily installed signaling device which will be highly efficient in use, which` will tend to prevent accidents and congestion of traiiic, and which will, efficiently perform all the functions for which it is intended.

Vhil'e I have shown and' described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it' isi of course to be understood that I reserve the right to make such changes in the form, construction and arrangement of parts aswill not depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope ofthe'subjoined claims.

Having thus described' my invention'` l claim: i 1. A signaling device for automobiles comprising a casing adaptedto be secured upon one of the side bars of the windshield, a plurality of legend bearing plates disposed within the casing and pivotally mounted,

bars slid'able longitudinally within said casl mg and having their inner ends laterallyk turned to provide handles, links pivotally connected with the outer ends of said` bars and pivotally connected with the upper inner corners ofthe plates, said links being U- sliaped in cross section whereby to einbracingly engage the plates.

2. A signaling device for automobilescomprising a casing adapted to be secured upon one of the side bars ol'the wind shield, a plurality of'legend bearing plates disposed within the casing and pivotally mounted, bars slidable longitudinally within said casing and having their inner ends laterally turned to providehandles, links pivotally connected with the outer ends of said bars and `pivotthus provided aV simply vconiso ally connected with the upper inner corners of the plates, said links being U-shaped in cross section whereby to embracingly engage the plates7 the projecting ends of said bars being formed With cut away portions having square stop shoulders and inclined surfaces, a resilient strip secured upon the upper edge of said casing and carrying a block normally disposed Within said cut away portion and in engagement with said stop shoulders, whereby to serve as stop andP brake means.

3, ln a signaling device of the character described, an elongated casing of inverted U-shape in cross section having one end open and its other end provided with an opening, a plurality of signal blades pivoted Within the open end of the casing on a common pivot, bars slidable longitudinally Within the upper portion of the casing through said opening and having their inner ends laterally deflected at different angles to constitute handles and identifying means7 and links pivotally connected With the outer ends of said bars and with the upper inner corners of the signal blades, all of said blades being normally contained Within said casing, and longitudinal movement of said bars in one direction resulting in swinging movement of the associated blade to extend beyond the open end of the casing in alignment there- With.

In testimony whereof I. afx my signature.

JOHN WILSON. 

